Singapore Police Force has achieved an operational breakthrough with its first “Facebook arrest” arising from a netizen who responded to Police’s appeal for information on a suspect in an unsolved crime on its Facebook page¹. 

This significant development came about on 11 Nov 2011 when a public-spirited person called 999 and informed that he could identify a loanshark suspect from a photo posted on the Police Facebook Page since July 2009.  This has led to the arrest of the suspect² and another suspect³, both 19 years old, for suspected involvement in loanshark harassment activities in the Bukit Merah area. Investigations are ongoing.

Since 2009, Police has set up its Facebook Page to reach out to the Net-savvy community, and use it as a complementary channel to traditional media for police appeals, taking advantage of the viral nature of social media.

“Police are grateful to the member of the public who called 999 and provided a critical tip-off which led to the arrest of the two loanshark suspects.  This is indeed public spiritedness in cyberspace. We are confident that more cases will be solved through this e-partnership with the community,” said Director of Public Affairs Department, Assistant Commissioner Ng Guat Ting (Ms).

First time offenders found guilty of loanshark harassment may be fined not less than $50,000 and not more than $500,000 with mandatory imprisonment of up to 5 years and mandatory caning of up to 12 strokes. Any person who is guilty of providing false contact information to obtain loans from loansharks shall be liable for conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months.

¹ Singapore Police Force Facebook page: www.facebook.com/singaporepoliceforce

² Suspect’s CCTV photo on Police Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=126228164407&set=a.10150114047199408.332641.56706929407&type=3&theater

³ 2^nd suspect’s CCTV photo on Police Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=126228169407&set=a.10150114047199408.332641.56706929407&type=3&theater